J.S. CARRAS—THE RECORD
Newborn Nursery Technician Valerie Dussault of Ballston Lake, prepares Kaylie Willams of Valatie for a special Christmas Day delivery to her parents, Rebecca and Nathan Williams, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, N.Y., on Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Dussalt will retire after 42 years of service with the hospital at the end of the year.

ALBANY >> Santa made a special stop at St. Peter’s Hospital on Christmas morning to escort three newborn babies to the waiting arms of their parents, courtesy of a program that’s been in place at the hospital since 1970.

The babies, ranging in age from one to two days, were decked out in holiday attire just for the occasion and, for the most part, good-natured about being in the spotlight with an over-sized elf and his nursing entourage.

The tradition was started, in part, by Nursery Technician Valerie Dussault more than four decades ago when she began working at St. Peter’s. Wednesday’s Christmas “delivery” by Santa was bittersweet for Dussault, a Ballston Lake resident, who retires next week. Her longevity at the hospital — and as the program’s coordinator — has had some perks not many members of the staff share.

“I will miss the babies and dressing them up,” she said. “This has been so nice. In some cases I’ve gotten to see their children and even their grandchildren.”

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Dussault has dressed hundreds, if not thousands, of newborns at the hospital in Christmas garb as part of the tradition. The holiday attire is purchased and donated by staff of the St. Peter’s Women’s and Children’s Services. An estimated 120,000-plus babies have been born at St. Peter’s during Dussault’s tenure.

Even fussy babies succumb to her charm, which is probably part of the reason she has been asked to stay on as a Cuddle Program volunteer for the Neonatal Unit.

This Christmas morning Dussault coaxed two newborn boys into crushed velvet Santa tops and Candy Cane striped leggings and a newborn girl into a cream-colored ‘onesy-with-a chiffon mesh tutu.’ She handed them off to Santa who wheeled the babies one at a time to the rooms of their parents.

Nine babies in all were born at St. Peter’s on Christmas Eve alone, said Charge Nurse Mary Vitale.

“Merry Christmas! Here’s the best Christmas present you ever got,” announced Santa to two pairs of first-time parents.

Kaylie Lynn Williams, the only girl in Santa’s delivery trio, was born at 9:50 a.m. on Christmas Eve. Parents Rebecca and Nathan Williams of Valatie in Columbia County were tickled to be part of the hospital tradition. In fact, they were a little surprised to even be there for the holiday.

“I was due to have her Jan. 9,” Rebecca said, “But here she is just in time for Christmas.”

The unwrapped Christmas gifts under the tree at the Williams’ house and Christmas dinner with grandparents would have to wait one more day, she said.

Next, Santa presented Elijah Thomas Finch to parents Amy and Caleb Finch of Ravena. Elijah, dressed as a miniature Santa Claus minus the facial hair, was born Monday at 9:11 a.m. He was the third of three children and the Finch’s only son.

His female siblings, five and two years old, had to delay opening Christmas gifts that their grandparents had hauled to the hospital for the occasion. Never the less, they seemed delighted with their new brother.

Lastly, in keeping with the nature of a true procrastinator, Ryan Francis O’Connor was wheeled into the room of his parents Katie and Neil O’Connor of Albany. Born Monday at 7:38 p.m., Ryan was 12 days overdue when he finally arrived. Displaying the naivete of first-time parents, the O’Connors had volunteered to host Christmas at their new home for more than 30 guests. Those plans drastically changed. Katie said.

“He is the first grandchild on one side and the seventh on the other side of the family, so all of his cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents would have been at our home right now celebrating if he’d been born on his due date,” she said.

Instead, the relatives had to make due with ‘face-time’ visits on iPhones and iPads on Christmas.

“As new parents, we’re quickly learning there always has to be a Plan B,” Katie said.